An invitation from NPP to democratic forces

The National People’s Movement has issued a statement to the media stating that it invites all democratic forces to pursue the political path of protecting fundamental rights.
The press release is published below.
“We invite all democratic forces to follow the political path of defending fundamental rights.
We as the National People’s Power strongly condemn the recently resurfaced attacks on journalists and the misuse of law enforcement agencies to restrict freedom of speech and expression, which are constitutionally recognized as a civil right of Sri Lanka. We condemn the attack on journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema’s house and the unjust arrest of Shehan Malaka, a social activist by the CID, and publicly abhor it. We of the National People’s Power were startled at the arbitrariness of the arrest of Mr Shehan Malaka Gamage by a group that is said to be attached to the CID. The aforesaid officers had not shown their identities to Mr Gamage prior to his arrest and had not even informed Mr Gamage of the reason for his arrest. It is incomprehensible why the people who are fighting for justice for the Easter Sunday attack, which has claimed hundreds of lives and left so many others traumatized and lost a whole future to thousands of innocent lives, continue to fall victim to government persecution. When the whole country is staring at law enforcement agencies to find the real mastermind behind this brutal attack, the CID and all sections of the government are making every effort to silence the voice of those fighting for justice. Unfortunately, the CID’s eagle eye is on the likes of Ven. Cyril Gamini and social activist Shehan Malaka Gamage, even though some of those accused of criminal negligence are within the ruling party.
We further condemn the continued use of harsh laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Article 120 of the Penal Code to restrict the right to freedom of expression and expression granted to the people of Sri Lanka by Article 14 (1 (a) of the Constitution. We have observed a dangerous trend of using the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Article 120 of the Penal Code and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as tools to deny one’s fundamental right to personal liberty and the right to due process of law and the right to equality and equal treatment before the law. No rational democratic society can ever approve of the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act against social activists, with the judiciary becoming mere pawns of the police in matters of personal liberty. Thus, specific provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, No. 56 of 2007, which is still in force in Sri Lanka, would negate even the basic tenets of the human rights underlying the United Nations’ enactment of such a Convention. We strongly condemn all these arrests as arbitrary, illegal, malicious and oppressive. We further note that the deprivation of a person’s liberty in this way is tantamount to torture and other acts of torture referred to in the Convention Against Torture And Other Cruel, Inhuman Or Degrading Treatment Or Punishment Act (No. 22 of 1994). Therefore, we invite all law enforcement officers to act within the paradigm and legal framework of the law, rather than merely to satisfy the political authority temporarily in office for a specified period.
We are all horrified by the brutal armed attack on the home of journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema, who is under CCTV surveillance and in a safe environment. We believe that an armed group that came in randomly without the support of any political arm would not be tempted to commit such a heinous act. The incident also took place when so-called statements were being made that the suspects involved in the cowardly attack on the Gampaha convention of the National People’s Force had escaped from police custody. The attack on journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema warns that an armed force with powers similar to that of the army operating from beyond the control of the police and law enforcement agencies in Sri Lanka is on the rise. It is a serious threat to national security.
Therefore, we urge the Government of Sri Lanka to be committed to safeguarding the democratic essence, the fundamental rights of the people and citizens of this country, and upholding national security and the rule of law. We call on all democratic forces, the free media, Civil society and civil society activists to join hands with us in the struggle against state oppression and the political process that seeks to protect and uphold democratic values, freedom of expression and fundamental rights of the people.